Team Washington wins title

Wednesday

Mar 26, 2008 at 12:01 AMMar 26, 2008 at 1:53 PM

After a full season of BYBA Saturday basketball 7th/8th grade games with one undefeated team, one team with no wins and eight other teams in the mix, one comes to expect the unexpected when playoff time arrives and this year seemed to top them all.

After a full season of BYBA Saturday basketball 7th/8th grade games with one undefeated team, one team with no wins and eight other teams in the mix, one comes to expect the unexpected when playoff time arrives and this year seemed to top them all.

With first losses, first wins and the third and fourth seeded teams competing for the championship — this was BYBA playoff basketball at the Belmont High School.

Team Washington, in sixth place for most of the season, moved up to the fourth seed position on the last Saturday of regular play and then their amazing run began. With a bye in round 1, team Washington first defeated team San Francisco squad 47-20 then faced their biggest test of the year against team Montana – the league’s only undefeated team.

Team Montana squad, down several players, played extremely well, and aggressively fought a defensive battle. However, team Washington prevailed 34-26, setting up the championship game between Washington and Oregon — the team that Washington had twice defeated during the regular season.

For anyone expecting that precedent to continue, Oregon quickly dispelled that thought with a well-coached and lighting quick attack resulting in a 22-7 lead for Oregon at the end of three periods. Then something happened.

With Ricky Horgan and George Tarabelsi playing their best defense of the year, Peter Fuller pulling down multiple key rebounds, Julian Erdos-Steinberg battling for/ball hawking everywhere, Michael DeFranco’s driving layups, Alex Fiorillo’s tenacious full court defensive stops, Sina Azimi’s precise ball handling/drives, Anthony Fiorillo’s time and again disruption of Montana’s offense by stripping the ball and multiple breakaways, Gabe Roy Liguori’s 14-point explosion in the seventh period and Angel Tejada’s slashing drives, 19 points and relentless pounding on the boards, the score was 44-44 at the end of seven periods.

Despite ferocious comeback efforts by the never-say-die team Oregon boys, team Washington would not be denied, sealing the victory, 51-48, with eight seconds on the clock in the eighth and final period, coming away with the championship.

Head coach Jean Fiorillo and assistant coach Rich Liguori could not be prouder of their team’s play and spirit all year. Washington and all the teams played their hearts out and the boys championship trophies will long be treasured. Congratulations Washington.